2019 TBR Cleanup Challenge

[Anna]

Of course! Many people continue with the old challenges, in fact some people might still be playing 2017 Monopoly! :D

[Laura]

Anna wrote: "Of course! Many people continue with the old challenges, in fact some people might still be playing 2017 Monopoly! :D"

Great! Thank you!! :)

[Rachel]

Don't think I ever posted so:

1. Oldest book - Way station???
2. Work of art- Monstress?
3. Novella or short story collection - In an Absent Dream or Starlings
4. Title is a question -How Long Til Black 'future month?
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - hmm thinkit'll have tobe:
6. Has inspired other art forms - Cloud roads? Rivers of London? Romancing the Inventor?
7. Your initials are in the title - Hammered (RH)
8. A book recommended to you - Bannerless (just that it seemed to get a positive response inthe BR)
9. A book that intimidates you - Words of Radience. nuf said.
10. Reminds you of a song - Accelerando (desperado???)
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Skyward I think...
12. Book with a luck symbol - Raven something....
13. The 6th book - The Consuming Fire
14. Last in a series - Necessity or State Tectonics
15. One Hit Wonder - Somnambulist? (this one was hard!!)
16. Hidden Gem - The Moons of Barsk (I liked the first - thought it underrated)
17. Someplace you want to go - After Atlas (coping Anna) or State Techtonics i'll bet has somewhere real ...
18. Get On the Bandwagon - The Warrior's Apprentice (first Miles Vorkosigan book!)
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - Blackfish City
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Saga9?

[Lost Planet Airman]

Anna wrote: "Of course! Many people continue with the old challenges, in fact some people might still be playing 2017 Monopoly! :D"

Guilty as charged!

I'm playing the Monopoly game until I get a 'blackout' with all properties with hotels. And the 2018 Inclusive Book Bingo (only 1-1/2 books to go!)

[Dixie]

This looks like so much fun! I just spent about half an hour reading through everybody's picks. I'm not ready to choose my own yet but really looking forward to it throughout the year.

Read 20/20 Finished! 11/11/2019

√1. Oldest book Somnium: The Dream, or Posthumous Work on Lunar Astronomy
√2. Work of art
√3. Novella or short story collection In an Absent Dream
√4. Title is a question Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1
√5. Ugly cover (and please share it!)
√6. Has inspired other art forms The Man in the High Castle
√7. Your initials are in the title A Walk Out of the World
√8. A book recommended to you Ready Player One
√9. A book that intimidates you The Gene: An Intimate History
√10. Reminds you of a song Bunnicula
√11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) A Night in the Lonesome October
√12. Book with a luck symbol Stardust
√13. The 6th book Moominland Midwinter
√14. Last in a series The Shade of the Moon
√15. One Hit Wonder The Picture of Dorian Gray
√16. Hidden Gem The Day I Became an Autodidact
√17. Someplace you want to go Isle of Man
√18. Get On the Bandwagon Circe
√19. Words in title in alphabetical order Alas, Babylon
√20. Graphic or illustrated novel Preludes & Nocturnes

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Glad you could join us! I love love love reading through what books people pick and why for this challenge. Definitely one of my most-anticipated times of the year. Can't wait to see what speaks to you!

[CBRetriever]

11. Buddy read (do not need to participate): Search for the Star Stones
---- Contains the Zero Stone plus Uncharted Stars

I'm going to have to change this one as I finished it before 2019 to

11. Buddy read (do not need to participate): Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus
---- will have a Buddy Read in late February

[Paul]

Right, first new challenge as I only joined late 2018

Will edit this post (posting to remind myself), but

20. Graphic or illustrated novel will be Marvel 1602 which I found from this group and didn't make it into a read, but I got for Christmas.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Woot! Welcome, Paul, I've heard good things about that one!

[DivaDiane]

I’ve spent a long time thinking about what books could fulfill each requirement. Some I found really hard. I left those blank for now. Here’s my list. Sorry for no links. I’m using the App.

1. Oldest book- Player Piano Player Piano(oldest SF from 1952 - added bonus: oldest paperback from 1979 bought used who knows when. )
2. Work of Art
3. Novella or Short stories - Women Of Wonder
4. Title is a question - What am I doing Here? Bruce Chatwin - not SF
5. Ugly cover - Ballad of Beta-2Alpha Yes, Terra No! / The Ballad of Beta-2
6. Has inspired other art forms - Call of the Wild
7. Your initials are in the title
8. A book recommended - The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
9. A book that intimidates you - Das Jesus Video (the Jesus Video in German) or Red Mars
10. Reminds you of a song
11. Buddy read - I’ll have to check the page or maybe suggest something.
12. Book with a luck symbol - Joy Luck Club
13. The 6th book - Cloven Hooves, Meghan Lindholm (6th Genre novel on my Want to Read shelf that I already own)
14. Last in a series - Assassin’s Quest
15. One Hit wonder -Zen and the Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance
16. Hidden Gem - Girl with a Pearl Earring
17. Someplace you want to go
18. Get on the Band Wagon - the Power
19. Words in title in alphabetical order - A Fistful of Sky
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Watchmen

I’m famously terrible at sticking to a plan like this, though. I also chose only books that I already own, so they can do double duty with the Owned Books Challenge.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Nice Diane!! It's sometimes fun to make lists even if we won't hit them at all. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

[Cornerofmadness]

Paul wrote: "Right, first new challenge as I only joined late 2018

Will edit this post (posting to remind myself), but

20. Graphic or illustrated novel will be Marvel 1602 which I found from this group and ..."

I also just got it for Christmas and so far it's fantastic.

[Dj]

Marie wrote: "I don't know if I can finish this since I am already on two other challenges. Here are my choices:

1. Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, #1), Hunter, Faith
oldest audiobook I held that I haven't read
2...."

Some good choices there. I have to ask though, is it just me or as Adam Ant gets older does he look like he is becoming Captain Jack Sparrow?

[Dj]

Ninna wrote: "Love this challenge! This is my third year participating in it and I'm now a reading challenge addict! Gonna get a lot of old TBR books done on this challenge as well as a few new ones. Yay!

Happy..."

Dune can be intimidating, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

[Dj]

David wrote: "Dj wrote: "David wrote: "Loved this challenge past 2 years, so definitely going to try again this year. These categories were tricky, so here it goes:

1. Oldest book
[book:The Worst Journey in the..."

Fair enough. Different things can be intimidating.

[Andy]

lots of blanks, will need to fill out, looks like fun
updated September 6th - complete 19/20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
just one remaining - 10. Reminds you of a song
Updated November 19th - completed 20/20

✔︎ 1. Oldest book - Vegetables For The Irish Garden (longest on my To Read list - February 2011)
✔︎ 2. Work of art - A Doll's House - (Ibsen play)
✔︎ 3. Novella or short story collection - Trajectory
✔︎ 4. Title is a question - Who Fears Death - (?)
✔︎ 5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - In The Lake Of The Woods

✔︎ 6. Has inspired other art forms - Watership Down
✔︎ 7. Your initials are in the title - Washington Black - (AC)
✔︎ 8. A book recommended to you - We Are Legion - We Are Bob
✔︎ 9. A book that intimidates you - Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness - (don't think I'll be fit to tackle this one in January)
✔︎ 10. Reminds you of a song - Martin Eden - (Tom Waits - "Shiver Me Timbers")
✔︎ 11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe - (February 2019 Mod Curated Sci-Fi)
✔︎ 12. Book with a luck symbol - Good Omens - (Angels, witches, prophesies etc.)
✔︎ 13. The 6th book - Hot Six - (6 in the title and #6 in the Stephanie Plum series - new departure for me)
✔︎ 14. Last in a series - Death's End - (loved #1 and 2, looking forward to reading the end of this series)
✔︎ 15. One Hit Wonder - The Night Circus - (only until her next book is published towards the end of this year, I'm sure)
✔︎ 16. Hidden Gem - Xingu
✔︎ 17. Someplace you want to go - The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space - (here's hoping someone gets to go there soon)
✔︎ 18. Get On the Bandwagon - Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood - (170k reviews to date)
✔︎ 19. Words in title in alphabetical order - Normal People
✔︎ 20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Great start, Andy! I hope you love them!

[Becky]

Can a mod delete my old challenge thread please so I can create a new one? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You have everything you need from it?

[Becky]

Allison wrote: "You have everything you need from it?"

Yep, on a spreadsheet - I am just gonna start fresh for this year. :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Okie doke, all set!

[Becky]

Thanks!!

[Joon]

TBR (Updated 2/4) I already know I'm gonna be changing this all year lol.

1. Oldest book - The Mysterious Affair at Styles (not really the oldest, but the oldest I'm willing to read this year) Figured it was about time to get into Agatha Christie
2. Work of art - Artificial Condition See what I did there?
3. Novella or short story collection - The Refrigerator Monologues
4. Title is a question - How Long 'til Black Future Month?
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - Recursion All that YELLOW
6. Has inspired other art forms - The Last Wish First Witcher book
7. Your initials are in the title - Jade City
8. A book recommended to you - Senlin Ascends
9. A book that intimidates you - Ninefox Gambit I've heard this book is a difficult read
10. Reminds you of a song - A Lot Like Christmas: Stories Obviously a late-2019 read
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Skyward Doneskies.
12. Book with a luck symbol - Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach
13. The 6th book - Six of Crows I pretty much hope to read all Bardugo's books this year because I really loved the first one
14. Last in a series - Exit Strategy
15. One Hit Wonder - The Library at Mount Char Cheaty cuz it's his only novel
16. Hidden Gem - The Sky Is Yours Category could also be "Judge a book by its cover" cuz this cover is awesome
17. Someplace you want to go - Riverland
18. Get On the Bandwagon - The Color of Magic Gotta finally break this book
19. Words in title in alphabetical order - Medusa Uploaded A weak effort since it's only two words, I know, but I had to squeeze it in somewhere
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Nimona I tend not to read too many of these, but this caught my eye. Done

[Jemppu]

@Joon: good gods, those covers XD well picked!

[Joon]

It's funny because Lee/Miller and Lois Bujold both re-released most of their respective series (Liaden and Vorkosigan) digitally in the last couple years, and where Bujold had snazzy new minimalist cover art made for each of them, Lee/Miller just picked one bland cover and stuck it on all of them, changing only the actual book title.

Not complaining too much. Cover art on a digital book is next to useless.

[Raucous]

I'd seen this go by and not gotten around to signing up. Then I read a piece with a particularly hideous cover and was reminded of the challenge. Judge Sn Goes Golfing is perhaps on the short side so I may look for something more substantial later, but I doubt that I'll do better than the cover.

Progress: 20/20

✔︎ 1. Oldest book: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (oldest Patricia McKillip book in my TBR list)
✔︎ 2. Work of art: The Tai Chi Code: An exploration of the science behind the Internal Arts (Or at least a work about an art. Good to see a category that inspired me to get back to this long-standing TBR.)
✔︎ 3. Novella or short story collection: Organisms - Selected Stories (Came for the League of Peoples story. Stayed for the quirky Canadian humor, eh.)
✔︎ 4. Title is a question: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1 (Usually when I finish a book that's been the source material for a movie I think "The book was better." This time I'm going with "different.")
✔︎ 5. Ugly cover:
✔︎ 6. Has inspired other art forms: Math with Bad Drawings (Self-referential. It's the included art that inspired the book in this case.)
✔︎ 7. Your initials are in the title: Starfarers (In memory of Vonda N. McIntyre)
✔︎ 8. A book recommended to you: Jackalope Wives and Other Stories (A wonderful set of stories that I picked up based on a buddy read/group recommendation. Don't trust Coyote.)
✔︎ 9. A book that intimidates you: How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems (Explaining physics in real world contexts clearly is hard. So is drawing - at least for me. This author makes them both look easy. I find that a bit intimidating.)
✔︎ 10. Reminds you of a song: Making Money (A Google search on "song making money" gave me over half a billion hits. Ginger Rogers singing "We're in the Money" and Pink Floyd's "Money" are memorable examples. #SpeakHisName)
✔︎ 11. Buddy read: On a Red Station, Drifting (First of three in universe that we're doing).
✔︎ 12. Book with a luck symbol: The Raven and the Reindeer (Of course. Ravens have been considered both bad and less commonly good luck, depending on the culture. It was good for this story.)
✔︎ 13. The 6th book: Trumps of Doom (Read this series when it first came out and later had a connection to the author, so I'm rereading for nostalgia's sake).
✔︎ 14. Last in a series: Prince of Chaos (Tenth in the extended Chronicles of Amber series. It felt like a lot of books to check this one off so I used the series for a few other entries too.)
✔︎ 15. One Hit Wonder: The Last Unicorn (Even though the "other works" section in this classic goes on for pages and pages, this is the only thing I can ever remember when I hear the author's name.)
✔︎ 16. Hidden Gem: Sign of the Unicorn (This book revolves around a gem that has hidden powers, hidden liabilities, hidden activation instructions and, yes, it is itself also hidden)
✔︎ 17. Someplace you want to go: You're Going to Mars! (Pointedly improbable but very fun - with a compelling narrator)
✔︎ 18. Get On the Bandwagon: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (It was actually the tour bus (Beelzebus) of The Chattering Order of St. Beryl, part of the promo for the Amazon series release.)
✔︎ 19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order: The Redwood Revenger (That was close. This was a creatively fun read but note that it's the cliffhanger first book in an unfinished trilogy.)
✔︎ 20. Graphic or illustrated novel: The Prince and the Dressmaker (After too much grimdark I was feeling the need for something charming and uplifting. This so qualified. I wish that I looked this good in a gown.)

I usually tend to favor science fiction but there's a lot of fantasy in this list. Odd.

[Gabi]

Raucous wrote: "I'd seen this go by and not gotten around to signing up. Then I read a piece with a particularly hideous cover and was reminded of the challenge. Judge Sn Goes Golfing is perhaps on ..."

That is indeed a particularly hideous cover.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Holy cats that cover is heinous haha! Amazing. Preludes totally counts, and I loled at "fantasy's War and Peace." So, so true!

[Dj]

So I finished the first of my TBR challenge for the year.
The Cult of Unicorns

This is the second book in the Penny White Series. It is a good follow up. The first book dealt mainly with the Dragons of our Neighboring Dimension and this one moved to the Unicorns.

Seeded with References to Dr. Who (most of which I get through the inference, not being a fan) as well as Star Trek and Star Wars. The book also deals with declining church membership, the problem of big agribusiness and is generally a fun read.

I will be moving on to the third in the series.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Well done! Glad you liked it.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

First book down!

1. Oldest book - Fever 1793
2. Work of art - Artful
3. Novella or short story collection - The Wanderer in Unknown Realms
4. Title is a question - Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - White Trash Zombie Gone Wild

6. Has inspired other art forms - Lethal White
7. Your initials are in the title - A Creature of Moonlight or A College of Magics
8. A book recommended to you - Bite Club!
9. A book that intimidates you - 11/22/63
10. Reminds you of a song - Masquerade
√ 11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Dragon Wing
12. Book with a luck symbol - Juniper Berry
13. The 6th book - Carnival of Souls
14. Last in a series - Sword and Pen
15. One Hit Wonder - Jack of Shadows
16. Hidden Gem - The Case of the Missing Moonstone
17. Someplace you want to go - The Malice of Fortune
18. Get On the Bandwagon - A Discovery of Witches
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - The Absolute Sandman, Volume Two

[CBRetriever]

3 down:

7. Your initials are in the title: The Lies of Locke Lamora
---- Lamora contains my initials
12. Book with a luck symbol: Masks of the Outcasts.
---- Contains Catseye and Night of Masks and a Catseye is considered a Lucky Stone
20. Graphic or illustrated novel: The Last Unicorn
---- Graphic Novel version

on to the next one

[Gabi]

I had to change #11, since I had for my "The Rook" BR exactly myself as buddy, so not really in the sense of the prompt.


I'm 4 books down:

✔️ 3. Novella or short story collection – The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 4: Thunder and Roses
✔️ 6. Has inspired other art forms – The Way To The Stars
✔️ 11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) – How Long 'til Black Future Month?
✔️ 13. The 6th book – All the Birds in the Sky

[Dj]

Finished my Second TBR challenge book. This one had my Initials, my first name starts with a D and my last name starts with a W.
Dark, Witch & Creamy


This is a slight twist on the Cozy Mystery theme with a slight supernatural element thrown in for good measure.

In a Cozy Mystery, the murder(s) take place in a small and generally isolated community so the killer is generally a stranger, or the killed is. In this case, the person solving the mystery is also a stranger, so a slight twist.

The protagonist is going back to a small village to find out who she is and who her family is. When the Woman she thought was her Mother died she found out that she was found as a baby on the side of the road. So she goes to Tillinghenge to find out who she really is and then things get unusual. A fun if light read.

[Kaa]

I've finished 3 and made some changes:

2. Work of art: Out Here: Poems and Images from Steens Mountain Country
3. Novella or short story collection: Skin Folk
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!): The Door Into Fire

9. A book that intimidates you: Switch from Dhalgren to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - I have tried so many times to read this book. It is long and hard to get into. I don't think I can attempt both of these this year, and since Jonathan Strange is going to be a BR, that's the one I'm picking.
13. The 6th book: Switch from In the Palace of Repose to The Ruin of Angels - my library doesn't have the former, and the latter is the 6th book in the Craft Sequence.
17. Someplace you want to go: Switch from The Ruin of Angels to The Edge of Worlds - Since I moved Ruin of Angels to a different category, I had to find something different for this one. I would love to see the Raksuran world. Especially if I could fly.

[Joon]

Yeah I'm gonna need the BR to get me through Jonathan Strange as well.

[Rachel]

I’ve somehow gotten four done :

How Long Til Black Future Month? (Question)

Saga 9 (graphic)

Skyward (BR)

Blackfish City (ABCs)

[Jennifer]

I failed miserably at the 2018 challenge, but I am optimistic about this year.

1. Oldest book - Journey to the Center of the Earth
2. Work of art - The Princess Bride
3. Novella or short story collection - The Mysterious Affair at Styles
4. Title is a question - I'll need to come back to this one.
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) -
6. Has inspired other art forms - Contact
7. Your initials are in the title - Juliet (this is the only book on my list with a J)
8. A book recommended to you - Foundryside
9. A book that intimidates you - Hamilton: The Revolution
10. Reminds you of a song - Wishful Drinking (sounds like a country song)
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Armada
12. Book with a luck symbol - Defy the Stars
13. The 6th book - Britt-Marie Was Here
14. Last in a series - The Beauty of Darkness
15. One Hit Wonder - The Diary of a Young Girl
16. Hidden Gem - Gunslinger Girl
17. Someplace you want to go - Ways to Die in Glasgow
18. Get On the Bandwagon - The Darkest Minds
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - Ace of Shades
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Hmm, will have to find one.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I am too! That looks like a great list, Jennifer! You can do it!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Joon wrote: "Yeah I'm gonna need the BR to get me through Jonathan Strange as well."


I'm actually really hesitant to do a BR with you guys on Strange & Norrell, because I loved the book and I have a feeling all the BR people are gonna hate it...

[Hank]

Actually when we did it as a club read, if my memory is cooperating, the loves and hates were about 1/2 and 1/2. I was/am in the hate group and promise not to bring any negativity :) I have plenty of books that I loved that are....unappreciated by everyone else ;)

[Joon]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I'm actually really hesitant to do a BR with you guys on Strange & Norrell, because I loved the book and I have a feeling all the BR people are gonna hate it... "

Lol that has entered my mind as well, about other books. Notably the St. Mary's series by Jodi Taylor (the first book of which is on the March Noms list). I loved the first book but I can definitely see a lot of people here being unimpressed, which is why I didn't even second it.

For my part, I loved the Jonathan Strange TV miniseries.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I know nothing about this book other than that it's enormous, someone made a tv show and it's polarizing. I'm getting more and more curious! Excited for the BR.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

The miniseries really is quite good. It keeps really close to the characters and overall story while, of course, changing and cutting a few things as necessary.

[AndrewP]

I loved the book and the mini-series. My one line summary would be 'Dickins with magic'.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

AndrewP wrote: "I loved the book and the mini-series. My one line summary would be 'Dickins with magic'."


Which is funny, 'cause I find Dickens unreadable. ^_^

[Leticia]

Both of my challenges aren't counting the books :-(
Do you know how to fix that?

[Leticia]

Which is funny, 'cause I find Dickens unreadable. ^_^"

me too, it's the classic author I can't enjoy reading. I only know the stories by reading comics or watching films based on the books.

[Gabi]

Leticia wrote: "Both of my challenges aren't counting the books :-(
Do you know how to fix that?"

Did you check that the shelf name is correct? If yes, edit the challenge and type everything in again. I had one challenge not counting, and just setting it up again solved the problem.

[Anna]

Leticia wrote: "Both of my challenges aren't counting the books :-(
Do you know how to fix that?"

The usual reason is incorrect shelf name as Gabi suggested. If you have spaces in the name, GR will have changed them to dashes. It's best to copy the shelf name from My Books.